davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
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Basket Work of the Indiana.

The annual report of the National mu.
scum for 1884 contains several interesting
chronological papers. Professor o. Il. Ma.
son gives sketch of the basketry OF
North American aborigines, which is
amply illustrated with drawings of speci.
mems and enlarged portions of the basket
work, in order to illustrate exactly the
manner of weaving. Mason discusses the
methods in use all along the coast OF
western America from the Arctic ocean to
California in the interior, and among the
tribes of the Atlantic coast, and distin-
guishes three types of basketry, which he
calls the twined, the coiled and the woven
ones. The first is most frequently found
on the northwest coast. Coiled basket
work is almost exclusively used by the
northern Time and by the Apache, while
many tribes apply all methods of manu-
facture. A great difficulty in determining
the area of Characteristic forms is encoun-
tered through the deficiency of the meth
ods OF many collectors, and the frag.
mentary state Of collections; many speci-
mems which are seemingly Characteristic
Of one tribe having in reality far wider
distribution, while other characteristic
types are wanting in the collections
Science
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
A Printers Search for a Keyhole.

Another one of those old time typos lin
gered down town one morning among
convivial spirits long after the Jig" was
up, and when he finally got started west
ward-it seems to me that all the printers
in town live ON the west side-it was
broad daylight, and the east bound cars
were crowded with people who hadn't the
faintest idea of what it was TO work all
night. lie lived on Madison street, and
when he reached his home he tried for
several minutes to adjust his key to the
keyhole, but couldn't strike the combina-
ton. Every half minute a car loaded
with people passad by and everybody
laughed at him Then q cunning idea
struck him. He went calmly down in his
pocket, got match, lighted it, held it up
to the keyhole, inserted the key unlocked
the door and stalked dignifiedly in, while
an irrepressible shout Went up from a car
that was passing. Daylight might be
good enough for some, but he needed %
little extra illumination. He was used to
artificial light.-Chicago Mail.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

The extreme sensitiveness of the French
character was amusingly illustrated as /,
recollect some years ago in the Pireus of
Athens, where vast number of ships of
war of all nationalities were assembled,
awaiting events after the flight of King
Otho and the coming of the present mon
arch, who was then Prince George of Den
mark. Amongst the English squadron
was line Of battle ship named Con-
queror, which had for figure head lion
trampling on a rooster. The ships were
very close together in the Piraus, which
is small harbor, and it happened that
the Conqueror was moored next to the
flagship of the French admiral, and that
regularly every day that officer was per-
force compelled to see the Conqueror fig
ure head right outside his stern galley.
The contemplation became SO annoying to
him that he actually wrote to the English
admiral, and requested that the objec-
tionable figure head might be removed.
OF course, this could not very well be
done; but in order to smoothe matters the
Conqueror was ordered away to the isl
ands of the archipelago, and ON her re-
turn, some weeks later, was, much to
the disgust of her officers made to anchor
in Salamis bay, about six miles from the
city, so as to be out of the way of exhibit
ing her aggravating figure head to the
representative Frenchmen. - New York
Truth
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
AN OLD INDIAN FIGHTER.
Horrifying Goodness with which He Gave
the Details of the Death of His Foes.

the Details of the Death of His Foes
suppose soldier in battle but rarely
knows that he has actually shot O man,
but one of these old Indian fighters sits
down after dinner, over pipe, and re-
lates to you with quite horrifying coolness
every detail of the death which his rifle
and his sure eyes dealt to an Indian; and
when this one, stroking meanwhile the
head of little boy, who was standing at
his knees, described to me how he lay on
the grass and took aim at tall chief, who
was, in the moonlight, trying to steal
boat from party of gold seekers, and
how, at the crack Of his rifle, the Indian
fell his whole length in the boat and never
stirred again, confess was dumb with
amazement. The tragedy had not even
the dignity of an event in mans life.
He shot Indians as he ate his dinner,
plainly as mere matter of course; nor
was he brute, but kindly, honest, good
fellow, not in the least bloodthirsty
One of these very Indian fighters is
now sitting before me. l have been ac-
quainted with him for years, and know
him to be good, kind hearted man, and
the idol Of the little curly heads who
cluster at his knees. He does not look at
all as imagined a murderer would look;
he is dignified as well as good hearted-in
fact, there is nothing different in his ap-
pearance and manner from those of any
other well meaning citizen. And yet he
has just been telling me, with a slight,
satisfied smile playing over his lips as he
spoke, how he once hanged an Indian and
again how he cut the throat of another.
am sot at all afraid of him, though
must acknowledge that he makes me
shudder; but as we think over the matter
wonder all the same-and yet in the
south, and all over the sea, have looked
upon some strange, sad scenes, in which
blood was not wanting. Am 1 disguised
when he tells ME how he once cut a steak
with his bowie knife out of an old Indians
Yes-but there he stands before me, and
| must say that he does not at all look
like butcher.-A. G. Tassin in Overland
Monthly
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

No explanation ever has been, or ever
will be, forthcoming of the extraordinary
freak Of nature in the formation of the
famous pearl known as the southern cross.
Originally discovered at Roeburn, in
western Australia, it consists of nine
pearls adhering together in the form of a
Latin cross, seven in the shaft and two In
the arms, one on each side of the shaft,
nearly opposite the second pearl from the
top. The pearls are slightly compressed,
like peas in pod, and no trace of any
artificial junction can be observed. 1t
has been suggested that fragment of
sea weed may have got into the shell and
formed the frame of the construction.
The pearls are of fine quality, though
slightly misshapen at parts, and the value
of the gem is very high, Its character is
unique, and SO filled the owner-an Irish.
man named Kelley-with superstitious
awe that for long time he was induced
to hide it away and keep his possession Of
1t secret.-Boston Transcript
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

That one of the greatest of all of the
cities built by the Buddhists in the east
should have been forgotten and lost in
the depths OF trackless forest for 1000
years is a fact that lays powerful hold
on the imagination. Readers of Mr.
Ferguson and Sir Emerson Tennent have
heard something Of the architectural won.
ders OF Anuradhapura, the ancient "city
of granite" " In the island of Ceylon, and
of the unparalleled immunity of its struc.
lures and rich monumental remains from
the ravages of the spoiler and the religious
fanatic.
Since they wrote great progress has
been made in the way OF clearing the
jungle, Mr.. Burrows, who has lately
visited the city, gives in Macmillan
Magazine remarkable account of the
progress made in local archaeological re.
searches since this marvellous record OF
the past was accidentally rediscovered.
The ruins at present disclosed are de.
scribed as already extending for dis
tance Of at least four miles by two and a
half. The wonderful Cingalese palace,
supposed to have been built about the
commencement Of the Christian era, o.
which Mr.. Burrows gives an elaborate
description, was discovered only last year.
30 lar the clearings and excavations are
stated 10 yield results which entirely
agree with the most authentic account
eHtant from an eve witness Of ancient
Anuradhapura-the Chinese traveller, Fa
Han, who visited il IN the early part OF
the tifth eentury.-Chieago Tunes.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
The Intelligence of Birds.

DIR. Charles c. Abbott says that in ex-
perimenting ON the intelligence of birds
when he girdled branches ON which birds
had built their nests, causing the foliage
TO shriyel, exposing their nests, although
they had laid their eggs they would aban-
don them; but if the nests already con-
tained young birds, Notwithstanding the
exposure, they would remain until the
young were able to fly, He placed num-
ber OF pieces of woolen yarn-red, yellow,
purple, green and gray in color-near a
tree in which a couple of Baltimore ori-
oles were building a nest. The pieces of
yarn were all exactly IKE except in color.
There was an equal number of each color,
and the red and yellow We're purposely
placed on the top. The BIRDS chose only
the gray pieces, putting in a few purple
and blue ones when the nest was nearly
finished. Not a red, yellow or green
strand was used.-Chicago News.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

In many European countries govern
mental supervision regulates household
service. Servants in some places possess
conduct books, without which they can
not find situations The mistresses note
the girls behavior in this book, which is
countersigned by the police. Why could
not the system suggest an American plan
of regulation A supervising board of do
mestic service, composed Of the prominent
matrons of city or town, would be use
ful department of municipal government.
Its duties would be the supervision of in
telligent offices, and the careful oversight
of the unprotected girls, as well as pre-
vention of fraud against housekeepers,
and its good results can be predicted as
one answer to a difficult problem. Gas.
sells Family Magazine.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

My extensive dealings with both news--
boys and bootblacks have convinced me,
that there Is no honester class than they
The other day gave a newsboy fifty cents
to change, and he went from place to place.
until he was out of sight, but seemingly
could not get the change. In little while
he came painting up the street with the
change and said he was sorry to keep me
waiting. The fellow with the swell boot
backing establishment borrowed my knife
to scrape the real estate off my shoes, and
went away and forgot it. He handed it
over next day without murmur. Some
times the boys haven't change and some
times l haven't, but we repose mutual
confidence in each other and never get.
cheated.
There is lame newsboy from whom +
generally buy my evening papers. He
seems to have an implicit trust in my hon
esty that have always admired and won-
dered at, for fiatter myself l know my
self much better than he does. He is
gruff, but exceedingly honest. One time
l bought the Two papers from him and
gave him five cents. He did not have the
one cent change. He said he would pay
it next day. I thought at the time he
wouldn't, but said nothing. Next day L
left for Europe. I was gone eight months,
and constant association with the mon
archs of that variegated continent gradu-
ally obliterated that one cent from nv
mind. The day after l got back was.
sitting in my office when he hobbled in,
and in the calmest manner, as if it were q.
mere trifie laid down the coin on my desk
and said, Here's your cent. Luke
Sharp in Detroit Free Press.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
Aluminium Dental Plates.

The early use of aluminium was not
satisfactory, as the metal was impure,
owing to the presence of iron, and it soon
succumbed to the fluids of the mouth.
This was more generally true of cast
plates, which We're not only more difficult
to make, but were not as good. The
metal is not very easy TO cast, as it does
not flow freely like other metals, and
the contraction is considerable, causing
cracked blocks. When made from rolled
plate and pure metal aluminUm for upper
cases mas proved very satisfactory in my
hands, and not being very expt ,sive is n
recommendation, as il is meta and ia
thus better than rubber ana less In cost
thah gold. Ii is very light and strong,
perfectly tasteless and odorless, and as
heslthy 10 the gums as gold or platina.
lhe teeth are best attached with rubber.
George IL Sa'ttt in West. Dent, Journal.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
A BOstOn BoY,a Tons.

One top is named Stonewall jackson.
because of an unconquerable tendency to
ride ahead" of the rest. This name
shows that Barbara Freitchien has stuck
in the memory of at least one small boy.
Another long legged top, which has de-
cided preference for stationary attitude
in spinning, and wears an aspect of pa
tient, smiling dignity, is named Gen.
Grant, because, its owner said it sug-
gested to him Gen. Grant ''sitting in his
window and smiling down on the children
going by to church''-obviously an incl
dent of the generals last illness which
had impressed the small boys imagina-
ton. There is certain battered old top,
scanned with lashings and perforated with
hostile peg holes, which nevertheless lies
very close to its owners heart, and which
proudly bears the designation, always
quoted at its full length, of "Daniel Web
ster, the old war horse" One top has
the name of Pegasus, title which the
Listener" fondly fancied showed cIas-
sical tendency on the part of Tommy's
tastes until, upon inquiry, he found that
1t was borrowed from the name of a
highly approved locomotive on the Boston
and Lowell railroad.-Boston Transcript
'Iistener -
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
Smoking Uuder yyater.

''Do you know how that trick of smok-
ing under water is donef" asked show
man the other day. you'll see it tried
in the swimming.tanks. 1t looks strange
1 admit, to see man go under water
with lighted cigar in his mouth, smoke
calmly at the bottom, and come to the
surface with the cigar burning as nicely
as if he were smoking in his easy chair.
1t is trick, but it requires practice. /
used to be quite proficient at it. Just as
/ threw myself backward to 90 down, l
would flip the cigar end for end with my
tongue and upper lip and get the lighted
end in my mouth, closing my lips water
tight around it, A little slippery elm
juice gargled before going in prevents
any accidental burning of the mouth.
Going slowly down backward, would
lie at full length on the bottom of the
tank and blow smoke through the cut end
of the cigar. Just as reached the sur.
face again another flip reversed the cigar,
and there l was smoking calmly The re-.
versing is done so quickly that nobody no.
tices t."-Philadelphia Call.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
TIE poprx secLuslon.


Few persons whom fate has raised TO so
high rank love secusion so much as the
successor Of Plus Xf, who was never
averse to cheerful surrounding Leo XIII
In seldom seen In his reception robes; still
more difficult Is IL TO observe him In his
house dress. The seclusion in which he
dwells is easily accounted for-frst by
his naturally retiring ways and secondly
by the fact that his devotion 20 all the
affairs that claim his attention leaves him
absolutely no time for visitors. Mgr.
Della Volpe, the successor Of Machi as
maestro di camera, must bear the brunt Of
the general dissatisfaction engendered by
the scarcity Of admission TO papal audi
ence, and yet he is powerless TO remedy
the evil. Leo XIII, who sits constantly
before his enormous, artistically carved
writing desk, hidden behind a heap Of
books, diplomatic letters and newspapers,
rarely allows himself TO be interrupted in
his work In order TO listen TO the timid
petitions of his maestro di camera, and
sontents himself with proving to him that
he has no time to lose.
He has not yet become convinced that
general blessing will satisfy his visitors,
and therefore when he grants an audience
to twenty or thirty persons he considers
himself obliged to take special interest in
each individual. He asks questions and
gives advice, all of which tries him very
much and robs him Of many n precious
hour. Therefore he resists as long as pos
sible without yielding to the necessity Of
appearing in the reception hall between
two noble guards and accompanied by the
monsignor participants, whose Office is to
introduce those who have come to be pre-
sented to the holy father.
Another class of persons who, with tho
best Of intentions, give the pope much
trould are the mediocre artists. Leo XIII
is great admirer of the fine arts. On his
way TO the garden he often stops in the
hall of the candelabri, in the Vatican
museum, descends from his chair and re-
mains several minutes, surrounded by his
palfrenieri, in gazing at the ceiling, which
is being painted at his expense by Salty.
He inquiries about the progress of the
painting, asks those around him for their
opinion concerning the work, and repeat
edly orders very costly details to begin
anew, in order TO make them more
worthy Of himself and the apos-
tolic palace. But surrounded as
he is by masterpieces of art, how
many incredible pictures, what abortive
portraits must he see, bless and accept as
tokens of venerationl Leo XIII is hard
to please in artistic matters; he is rarely
satisfied with his Portraits and even Len
bach could not succeed in thoroughly
pleasing him.-Berlin Boersen- Courier.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
scYTHE SONG.
'talwart mowers. brown and 1.-the,

Stalwart mowers. brown and 1.-THE,
Over summer meads abloom,
WELDING fast the whispering scythe, ~
Where is all the old perfumes
Breathes IL yet In tender gloom,
Soft through hades' twilight airf
Where hath summertide her tombf
Hush, the scythe says, where, ah wherei
Comes the long blade cleaning cold
Where the garden ground is spread
Rays of pearl on crowns OF gold,
Dainty daisies, white and redl
Danes that o'er them once would tread,
Damsels blithe and debonair,
Where Is all your sweetness fedf
Hush, the scythe says where, ah wherei
Timel who takst and givst again
All things bitter, some things sweet,
Must we follow, oil In vain
Follow still those phantom feetf
Is there not some grass grown street,
Some old, yew.begirt parterre,
Where our dreams and we may meeti
Hush, the scythe says, where, ah where,
-Longman's Magazine.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
Napoleon on English Society

The English appear to prefer the bottle
to the society Of their ladies' This is illus
trated by dismissing the ladies from the
table and remaining for hours to drink
and intoxicate themselves. II | were in
England should certainly leave the table
with the ladies, Were / an English
woman l should feel very discontented at
being turned out by the men to wait two
or three hours while they are drinking.
Napoleon.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
Inventive Genius In streaks.

One Of the leading authors of the pres
ent day has remarked that "genius comes
in shoals" There is depth OF truth in
the remark, says a contemporary, which
must at once be patent to all who are ia
miliar with the history Of our country, and
in no field of inquiry does the fact stand
out 80 prominently as in the great out
break of inventive genius by which our
country is distinguished. The Elizabethan
age was characterized by shoal of dra-
matists, next we have O shoal of essayists
with the amiable Addison at their head,
and down through the years until what
Carlyle has called "the mechanical age''
set in. The birthday of the manufactur-
ing supremacy Of England was undoubt-
edly the 9th Of January, 1869, when
James Watt announced his patent "for
method OF lessenfng the consumption Of
steam and fuel in fire engines This
was the source and sustaining power of
mechanical energy whose action quickly
changed the face Of the world.
The inventive minds fulled in shoal,
and before half a century elapsed England
was in possession of the most mechanical
appliances. Since the commencement of
the mechanical age" the aspect of the
country has been changed. In districts
like the ''Black Country" where nothing
iOihiciiy dpptulcu great
manufacturing establishments have been
erected, towns raised, and the roar of fur
naces, the noise of machinery, the buzz of
reels, and ceaseless activity now diversity
the scene where nothing was formerly
heard but the purling steam or the howl
ing OF the tempest. Not only do the
inventive minds come in shoals.
but shoals of inventors who con-
centrate their united energy on some
special branch Of mechanics or science are
every now and then springing up, and in
vention follows invention with surprising
rapidity. These inventions are always
shifting; at one time there is run for i'm
proved furnaces, at another improved
modes of constructing ships; then comes a
change to machinery, or some matter of
great public interest, like the rivalry in
the improving of the different systems of
electric lighting. Not only do inventions
shift from one branch of science and me-
chanics to another but at times a lull
comes over one country and great out
break of inventive genius breaks out in
another country. scientific American.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

Two German inventors are credited
VITA having devised an arrangement in
the shape of an automatic electric alarm
oeu calculated TO prevent the collision OF
I~o trains on the same track. More than
this, the invention enables train In
motion to remain in telegraphic COM
munieation with the station at either end.
Ia about the same way as do the Phelps
aud Edison telegraphs. Finally, the in
'entlon admits OF the transmission OF dis
patches to passengers in the train, and
snables the roadmaster to ascertain at
any time whether the track is clear with
.ut being obliged TO inquire OF the neigh
eorin9 stations Chicago Herald
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
Better than Doctors Stun.

The doctors may all talk, and they may
blow and say they can cure this and cure
that, but when 1t comes to telling any
thing about a mans stomach they're not
there. l have come TO the conclusion that
the less medicine a man puts into his
stomach the better for himself Since |
have quit taking medicine have been all
right. II / had kept on putting an spoth-
ecary shop under my vest might now be
out where the birds are singing and the
leaves are rustling. The best medicine
Tor man is good, healthy meal. That's
what l am taking now 1t beats pills,
and It knocks teaspoon and tablespoonfuls
kite. Democrat
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

SIT is safer to ride than to climb" said
one of the leading builders of elevators in
New York the other day. "We carry
over 3000 900 passengers on our elevators
in this city every day, and you can judge
for yourself what per cent. Of them are
killed as compared with the number that
are hurt falling down stairs Chicago
Herald
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21

A new building material called stone
brick, harder than the hardest clay brick,
rs made from simple mortar, but a scien-
tifically made and perfect mortar; in fact,
hydraulic cement, and the grinding to-
gether of lime and sand in dry state
including, also, some alumina, which is
usually present in sand-and the subse-
quent heating by steam, give the mixture
the properties of the burned hydraulic ce-
ments at present in use.-Public Opinion.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
Never pIned Before.

Said an English woman of rank 10 an
American lady; "Was Buifalo Bill In
vited to dine out much when ne was in
New York;" "Iie never dined in his life
TIL he came TO London" was the reply,
"when he was at home he had something
to eat at u O'Clock. Detroit Free Press,